Vanessa's Winter Romance: Adeniyi Siblings, #2

By Christina Rose Andrews

Vanessa Adeniyi's eyes have always been on the prize: graduating summa cum laude from Harvard, a prestigious career in a top-tier law firm, making partner before the age of 35. Romance has simply never entered into the equation. Not that she was against the prospect, but finding a guy who could understand her drive and need to succeed took time. Time she didn't have. She barely even had time to eat, let alone look for a guy.

Thank the stars for her best friend and roommate, Oz. Oscar 'Oz' Olviedo-Zamora is everything Vanessa would want in a guy. Smart. Funny. Sweet. Great cook. Even greater body. And even better he gets her. Gets her need to succeed, because he has his own goals too. He was the perfect friend.

And now he wants to be the perfect boyfriend.

To her.

Wait, what?

When did this happen? And will their friendship survive the relationship upgrade?

(Vanessa's Winter Romance is a standalone novella featuring an alpha female/beta male relationship. The story is complete and features a happy ending.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: RoseLark Publishing
• Release date: Jan 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386872306

Christina Rose Andrews

Christina Rose Andrews is actually two friends, Lark and Rose, writing underneath one penname.  A native of Colorado, Lark currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the mother to three fur babies: London, Shikamaru, and Pazu. She has an adorable godson and several very neglected plants. She graduated from East Grand Rapids High School. While at Central Michigan University, she initially studied Education and even made it to student teaching before realizing the career wasn’t for her. She graduated with a degree in “Do you want fries with that?” otherwise known as History and Earth Science. She’s a bit of Jack of all Trades, which is oddly useful when it comes to writing and gives her several real life analogues for characters and plots. In her spare time, she likes to help put on large fandom conventions and hang out with family and friends.  Rose is a New Yorker through and through. She is the proud parent of a well-mannered potted plant and the aunt to an adorable set of twins and a cute pit bull puppy. While most of her family went to Harvard, she bucked tradition and went to Haverford, where she received a degree in “How to be a Cult Leader” aka Religion and Psychology. After graduating, she pursued a master’s degree in Library Science at Pratt Institute. Currently, she works as a librarian in the suburbs of New York City. When she’s not on the train to work, she likes to read, play video games, and have tea. Because TEA!!! Lark and Rose met in an online writing community in 2009 and promptly had an argument.  After that, it was a long slippery slope into co-authorship.  They chose to write cross-cultural romance since it was something close to their hearts and it was damn near impossible to find stories featuring characters they wanted to see.  Both Lark and Rose are proponents for destigmatizing mental health, solving problems through conversation and listening, and creating real characters -- not caricatures.   ​They have presented at internationally recognized events.

Book preview

VANESSA'S WINTER ROMANCE

Christina Rose Andrews

Copyright © 2019 RoseLark Publishing

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Acknowledgments/Dedication

Acknowledgments: A big thank you goes out to Stephanie for being an idea bouncer as well as our sensitivity checker. Every time we asked her ‘can we do this?’ she would give us an honest answer and our story is better for it. Even more thanks go to Dana Kenzi for being our sensitivity editor. To Fuzzy Spork for creating the rocket tree. And to Mom and Dad for being the inspiration behind Vanessa and Oz.

Dedicated to Sara: thank you for teaching us what not to do in how to stick with deadlines when working with others. Your influence will stick with us.

Chapter One

oOo

What do you mean Paige is pregnant? Vanessa Adeniyi said, her voice low and deliberate. Another person might have shrieked, heck, she might have shrieked five years ago, but two years at Harvard Law had conditioned her into not outwardly reacting to shocking news. She never thought she’d use it with her twin, Vic. How did this happen?

Well, when a man and a woman love each other ve—

Cut the crap, she said with an eye roll. Didn’t Dad give you the talk about using protection?

He did but… it just kind of happened.

No. Tornadoes just kind of happen. Earthquakes just kind of happen. Unprotected sex does not just kind of happen! Vanessa shook her head. Ranting at her brother wasn’t going to solve anything. So what are you going to do?

Paige is keeping it.

That’s not what she’d asked and Vic knew it. Damn him! I don’t care what Paige is going to do. It’s her body. Her rules. What are you going to do?

I was hoping you’d help me figure out a way to tell Mom and Dad. Her twin had the decency to sound apologetic, all things considered. This was a crapload of trouble to come flying out of nowhere and straight into her lap. Trouble she had nothing do with and, frankly, wanted no part of.

Why didn’t you announce it over Thanksgiving?

She swore she could hear her brother wince. Um… I didn’t want to ruin Thanksgiving. Val hurt his knee and Vivi’s boyfriend drama is overwhelming. I didn’t want to add more to the pile. He paused and took a deep breath. Besides, Paige is still in her first trimester. I didn’t want to say anything until things were a little more certain.

That made sense. Miscarriage was definitely a big risk, especially considering Paige’s age. How far along is she?

Eight weeks.

Vanessa’s eyebrows shot up. And you’ve been dating her for how long?

Six weeks. But it’s mine. No chance of it being anyone else’s.

Once again she rolled her eyes. Of course she knew doctors counted from the date of the last period, not the date of conception. Their mom was a gynecologist; it was kind of hard to miss when at least once a week Mom would rant about some idiot man accusing his wife or girlfriend of having an affair because of how the medical industry classified the length of pregnancy. Vanessa counted back to when Vic first told her of this woman he was dating. Something niggled. You’re telling me you had sex on the first date?

Technically before the first date.

That’s it. I’m done. Her brother was an idiot. A complete and utter idiot, and she was washing her hands of the whole thing. Count me out. When you tell Mom and Dad they’re about to become grandparents, you can also tell them I’m staying here for the holidays. There is no way I’m coming home to this drama.

Please, Nessie. His voice was pleading, almost wheedling.

I’ve asked you not to call me that! Do I look like a sea monster?

Actually—

Oh hell no! Vanessa cut him off before he could even get started. I know you are not about to mansplain to me!

There was a pause, then Vic said, Sorry. I didn’t think.

That seems to happen a lot with you lately. Might want to see about getting your head examined. It sounds like you don’t have it quite screwed on right.

Okay, that’s enough. A hint of steel entered Vic’s tone. I called because you’re my best friend and my sister. I need your advice, not a lecture.

Guilt grabbed hold of her heart and gave it a little squeeze. Vic had every right to shut her down. She was being a crap friend and an even crappier sister. She wasn’t even sure where all of her vitriol was coming from; it was just there. She opened her mouth to apologize but didn’t know where to even begin.

The choice was taken from her when Vic continued with, I’m living with my choices. If I had the chance to go back and do it over, I’d do it the same fucking way. With the same woman. I love Paige. I love the little lima bean she’s got growing inside her. What I don’t love is all of the shit we’re getting from people who should have our backs.

‘People like you’ was left unsaid, but Vanessa heard it clear as a bell.

Do you know how many times Paige has been asked if she’s okay when she’s out with me? Right in front of me no less? Do you want me to remind you what Nana said when she found out Paige was white?

Vanessa didn’t need the reminder of her grandmother’s prejudices or of the challenges Paige and Vic were going through. She’d promised to be supportive of her twin, and now she wasn’t. She could analyze why later, now she needed to do damage control. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. It was her way of acknowledging her errors.

You know that isn’t an apology.

Apologies are pointless. Acknowledge fault, fix it, and move on. She cleared her mind and thought back to the reason her brother had called. Who knows about the pregnancy?

Just you.

A little hint of warmth flowed through her at the honor of being the first to know before reality knocked, bringing her back to the problem at hand. I’d tell Mom and let Mom tell Dad. And I’d do it soon. She knows pregnant women and babies, and if you think she’s going to allow anyone else to take care of her first grandchild while it’s in utero, you’ve got another think coming.

But she’s going to lecture me.

Yep, she is. And you’ll take it because that’s what you do. But she’ll lecture you less if you tell her now, Vanessa counseled, flopping down onto her neatly made bed. I definitely wouldn’t tell her you’ve known since before Thanksgiving. She doesn’t need to know.

Vic sighed. I don’t like lying to her.

You’re not lying. You’re just refraining from mentioning the timeframe. Keep it short. Keep it simple. And keep it focused. She shifted a few pillows around to create a little nest while she thought about her twin’s problems. They’d always been the other’s sounding board and best friend. Always. This was not the first time they’d discussed each other’s problems; she doubted it would be the last. But this was the first time it’d been something so life-changing. I’d reframe the whole thing and approach it as you asking her to be Paige’s obstetrician. It changes the whole conversation. Just talk it over with Paige first, she cautioned. You’ve got to be on the same page, so to speak.

Does that mean you’ll be coming home for Christmas after all?

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she thought about what going home would mean. Like really thought about it. Pulling her legging-clad legs up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them while cradling the phone in the crook of her neck. Christmas at home was going to be miserable. Val’s recovery from his ACL injury would take months. Who knew what would be happening with Vivi’s boyfriend and college hunt. And now with Vic’s news, the holiday was going to be baby central. Vanessa liked kids, but babies creeped her out. She blamed her mother’s ‘wall o’ babies’ for that. Some of the kids appeared downright freaky.

But it was more than that. Going home would be one big in-your-face big reminder that Vic was moving on and settling down. He was hitting all of the checkboxes of ‘success’ in America: good job, long-haul partner, family… you know the works. And here she was still in school, boyfriendless, and heading toward child-free. It didn’t matter that she was at Harvard or was working as a paid intern at the city’s best law firm. Vic was beating her, and she didn’t even realize she was being left behind.

It rankled. So no, she didn’t want to go home. She’d be miserable.

Besides, Mr. Mosselman had been on her case to attend the firm’s office party. As an intern, it wasn’t required, but rubbing shoulders with the other partners and associates could only help further her career. And something about the way he’d mentioned it made Vanessa think it would be a bad idea to miss it. Like potentially career ending bad. And it would be nice to have some peace and quiet. Living with four other people could be a bit overwhelming.

Making up her mind, she unfolded herself to sit cross-legged in her little nest. I’m going to stay in Boston. I’ve got things I need to do here. And I was home for Thanksgiving.

I know, but… I miss you, Nessie.

She grumbled several unkind words under her breath. There was no way he was going to stop calling her that.

I know. I miss you, too, Tory, she said, falling back to their old twin nicknames. But you’ve got your life, and it sounds like you’ve got a head start to getting your dreams. It’s time for me to keep working on mine. She did her best to keep her voice from sounding too bitter.

Don’t work too much that life passes you by.

Vanessa rolled her eyes at her twin’s admonition. She’d heard it before, but this time it hit a little too close to home. She didn’t want to discuss it with Vic. Not yet. Probably not ever. Congrats on the baby. I’m looking forward to being an auntie.

No you’re not, but thanks for saying it. He knew how she felt about babies. It was one of several areas where they agreed to disagree.

Give my best to Paige.

I will. Take care of yourself.

You too. Bye, she said, hanging up the phone and staring at it.

A surge of conflicting emotions washed over her. That line about life passing her by cut closer to the bone than even her twin realized. She’d heard it from one of the female partners: she could